Update.

It has been a while since my last post, and quite a lot has happened. A visit from my best friend, trip to Nashville, concert, and more friends from California here are a few highlights from the last month or so.

These were carolers singing outside of the East Village Promenade shops during the Holiday Promenade. The best part was that the guy on the right was on his phone talking while standing RIGHT NEXT to them, and then the little old man playing the bell starting ringing his bell (literally not metaphorically) in his ear until he moved away, it was awesome!


That's me skyping with my family on Thanksgiving, it was rough, emotionally and literally setting up the phone call haha but AMAZING to be able to "see" them all that night. Frick I miss them.
My first attempt at Sopes, I think my mom would be proud.
During Brenda's visit she blessed me with this bad boy! Yeah I had TOTALLY been wanting one!
Our first Christmas tree, and what an experience it was. We went to a tree farm and cut it down ourselves, which was actually the easy part. Trying to find one we both on agreed on however..... yeah no one told us Christmas trees could be hazardous to our marriage.
There she is in all her glory, after Joey and Chris got it set up we all spent the night stringing popcorn and cranberries (a first for me) it was also the night it starting snowing it was a pretty magical experience.
A little out of order here these are from when Natalie and Josh drove our car up! Yeah they're are amazing and I have the best friend in the world. It was sooooo incredible having here!Spending some time in the kitchen
Right after Rose's visit Bob Matthews and Co. came to town to play a show at People's Court in Des Moines. It was so much fun seeing him, we made dinner for him and the band before their show, they're all very cool guys. During the show the only thing that kept coming to my head was, "what if they all get sick because of dinner, and start vomiting on stage!" haha So far I have heard of no FOOD related complaints from that night.

Got to meet and spend some time with this little lady!!! Anastasia, Chris' one year old niece!
Thanksgiving Week in Nashville was a blast! Weather was great and so was the company!
Cut to present time, Miss Medina and Nicole enter the picture and the Des Moines area one week ago! It was AH-MAZ-ING having these ladies here (technically one is still here haha) they arrived Friday and Saturday we put them to work ALL day building a house for a Habitat for Humanity Family. It was soo much hard work but they were troopers and worked their tails off all day!
That's me in my handmade "snuglet" courtesy of miss Candice, Chris and I have to call dibs on it when we watch TV.
Anywhoo that's what it's a little of what's been going on here these last few months and believe me that is only the beginning. Since this week we've already had a plethora of Iowa Death Storm 09 experiences, but tomorrow I get to go home.

It's not you, it's me.

Change is tough. No shocker there.

But it can be even harder when you're married to a chameleon.

Obviously I don't literally mean a chameleon. I mean someone with chameleon like characteristics, specifically the ability to adapt to new environments quickly. Enter Chris.

For example, I don't know how a man, who practically lived at in and Out, moves half way across the country and within weeks has already found and fallen in love with a new cheeseburger.

I on the other hand, have refused to even try a cheeseburger since I've been here, just dream about them instead. I'm serious, two in and out dreams, two miguels dreams.

Today, I guess you could say I had a mini meltdown, food related of course. I was in serious need of some comfort food and being Nowhere near anything remotley familiar I tried out a little place called taco johns. Fail.

The food was ok, it was supposed to be like a del taco, except it's basically nothing like it. When I asked for a small fry they said we have potatoe oles.... Ummm ooook. Nope. They were good, but nothing like French fries and I was is no need or mood to try ANOTHER new thing.

I realize this sounds pretty ridiculous, but when you're starving for something familiar, something consistent, something the same or that you're used to you just want a little comfort with you're food.

If Life is A Highway

I'm that super annoying car in front of you that isn't quite sure where they are going. No really I am.

I spent the day running errands today...on my own. Yeah, that's huge, seeing as how sometimes I still managed to get lost in Corona.

Between google maps, the around me app, and a compass I managed to have quite the adventure trying to go to lunch, find the bank, make some returns and go to the post office.

First off - Our new bank, Bank Iowa is pretty awesome, but I guess coming from my hate/hate relationship with Wamu/Chase it wouldn't really take much to make me happy, just don't physically abuse my accounts and we'll be just fine. My only complaint- which is not really a complaint- or their fault- its just that the building, colors, location and name is very similar to Bank of the West which is located only a few driveways away. You can imagine every one's confusion as I walked into the wrong bank requesting money from my non existent bank account.... well not really but I did pull into their driveway before realizing I was at the wrong bank.

Next I conquered walmart, actually SUPER Walmart, I am pretty much helpless against it's super power, I haven't even attempted to go to the super TARGET, I know I can't handle that kind of temptation right now.

Once again walmart and all of it's roll back prices got the best of me. The thing about the walmart story is not so much that I somehow manage to buy double of everything I needed when I got there, but more about the fact that I was in tears walking around the store as I was shopping.

Let me back up, I pulled into the parking lot and parked, as I was collecting my purse and gathering the items I needed to return, I listened to a voicemail Gretchen had left me earlier that day. mistake number 1. Of course I start crying because she is saying everything I am feeling, and need to hear. I collect my thoughts and shut the door, yup you guessed it... Mistake number 2...keys are inside. As if Bananas and I don't already have a history-- (the car hates me) I locked the keys inside as.it.starts.raining. I head inside, not that I wouldn't have a shortage of things to take up my time inside while I waited for Chris but I try to call Gretchen back and as I am leaving her the message I start crying again! I'm pretty sure people here think I am crazy, or just refer to me as the "cold girl who cries in all the stores" (ross, dahls, and now walmart) but who's counting Anywhoo as has been the case for the last few months Chris shows up to save the day and we head home to end Dora and Diego's adventure for the day.

Ready.

To do what I came here to do.
To be the person I was created to be.
To realize the only thing that matters is what we do. (not what we intend, think, plan) just do.

To live better stories.

Game 4

It's past midnight in Des Moines, I'm wide awake, chris is asleep next to me, Angels lost-again, and I miss my friends.


- My thoughts for now

Signs. Literally.

These signs are on the floor of the Des Moines airport. No Joke. Be careful where you land folks, you just never know.

Stay tuned for more adventures from Es in the Midwest.

PE Take 2

Just a few highlights from my days in PE... I imagine there will be plenty more where these came from...

A few of my favorite parent and doctor notes:

3) Please excuse "Jonny" from PE he hurt his toe and can not participate in physical activity.

The best part about this was not that he had a note for a hurt toe but that the conversation that ensued after..

Me: So Jonny you hurt your toe huh?
Jonny: Yeah, I bumped it pretty bad yesterday
Me: So you can't run or walk anywhere?
Jonny: nooo, not at all
Me: How have you been getting to and from class? You have people carry you or something?
Jonny: Wellll, I have to walk, buuuuut it's pretty tough.
Me: Of course it is. Have a seat.

2) "Janey" is having menstruation problems please excuse her from uncomfortable activities

ummmm way to be too specific and vague in the same sentence. This note was uncomfortable for me, so am I excused?

and the best note (that was not actually given to me but I wish it had been)

1) Please excuse "Jimmy" from PE he was up late last night because our dog was having puppies.

Really? ok.

Thank you parents for helping me understand that P.E doesn't actually stand for Physical Education but Parental Excuses.